Self-sealing toothpaste cap

ABSTRACT

A container cap includes a nozzle portion having a cavity, a closed end, an open end, and a self-closing opening formed in the closed end. The open end provides access to the cavity. The nozzle portion is expandable to receive at least a portion of a nozzle of a container through the open end and into the cavity to provide connection there between. The container may be a toothpaste tube and the connection may be an interference fit connection.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/264,221, filed 7 Dec. 2015, and entitled SELF-SEALING TOOTHPASTE CAP, the disclosure of which is incorporated, in its entirety, by this reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to devices and methods for controlling the flow of contents from a container, and more particularly relates to a cap for use with a container such as a tube of toothpaste, the cap having an opening with self-sealing capabilities.

BACKGROUND

The majority of toothpaste tubes require caps that take time to screw on and screw off in order to control removal of the toothpaste. Removed caps can easily become lost. Further, such caps have a size and shape that are often difficult to handle, which may pose problems for small children and the elderly. If a cap is left off of a toothpaste tube, the toothpaste within the tube may become dried out. Further, the toothpaste within the nozzle of the tube may dry out and become crusty to extent that the nozzle becomes plugged. Further, leaving the cap off the tube of toothpaste may result in the toothpaste oozing out of the nozzle, which creates waste and a mess that requires cleaning up.

Dispensing the right amount of toothpaste from a tube can be challenging because the nozzle opening is large and provides little flow control, especially for those who may have difficultly applying a consistent amount of squeezing force to tube. Toothpaste dispensing often results in over-portioning and wasted toothpaste. In some cases, consumption of too much toothpaste by children and others with fragile health may result in sickness or other health problems.

Opportunities exist for improvements in sealing and dispensing contents from containers such as toothpaste tubes.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a container cap includes a nozzle portion having a cavity, a closed end, an open end, and a self-closing opening formed in the closed end. The open end provides access to the cavity. The nozzle portion is expandable to receive at least a portion of a nozzle of a container through the open end and into the cavity to provide an interference fit connection.

The cap may include silicone. The cap may include a base portion configured to contact a shoulder of the container. The base portion may be positioned adjacent to the open end. The self-closing opening may have a Y-shape. The self-closing opening may have one of a T-shape, an X-shape, an L-shape, a linear shape, and a star shape. At least the nozzle portion may include an elastomeric material. The self-closing opening may include at least one movable flap. The container may be configured as a tube of toothpaste. The cavity may have a length that is greater than a length of the container nozzle. The closed end may include a convex outer surface. The closed end may include a tapered surface. A portion of the nozzle portion adjacent to the open end may be configured to roll onto itself prior to mounting the nozzle portion to the container nozzle. The cap may have an integral, single-piece construction.

A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing a container cap. The method may include forming a nozzle portion, the nozzle portion including a cavity, a closed end, an open end, and a self-closing opening formed in the closed end. The open end provides access to the cavity by a nozzle of a container. The self-closing opening includes at least one movable flap that moves between open and closed positions as contents of the container are forced out through the self-closing opening.

The nozzle portion may be configured to provide an interference fit connection between the nozzle portion and the container nozzle. The method may include forming a base portion, wherein the base portion is connected to the nozzle portion and is configured to contact a shoulder of the container. The nozzle portion may include silicone and have elastic properties. The cavity of the nozzle portion may be formed having an internal diameter when in a rest state that is smaller than an external diameter of the nozzle. The closed end of the nozzle portion may be formed having a contoured shape.

The above summary is not intended to describe each embodiment or every implementation of embodiments of the present disclosure. The Figures and the detailed description that follow more particularly exemplify one or more preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings and figures illustrate a number of exemplary embodiments and are part of the specification. Together with the present description, these drawings demonstrate and explain various principles of this disclosure. A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention may be realized by reference to the following drawings. In the appended figures, similar components or features may have the same reference label.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cap in accordance with the present disclosure mounted to a container.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cap and container shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cap and container shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cap shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the cap shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the cap show in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the cap shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the cap shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the cap and container shown in FIG. 1 in position to dispense contents of the container onto a brush.

FIGS. 10A-10D show alternative opening designs for the cap shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a side view of another example cap in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the cap shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a top view of the cap shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the cap shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the cap shown in FIG. 11 mounted to a container.

FIG. 16 is a side view of another example cap in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the cap shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a top view of the cap shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the cap shown in FIG. 16 with one end rolled upon itself.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the cap shown in FIG. 16 mounted to the container shown in FIG. 1.

While the embodiments described herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, the exemplary embodiments described herein are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the instant disclosure covers all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure generally relates to a container cap that is used to control dispensing of the contents of the container. The cap may be a reusable cap that can be mounted to or removed from a container multiple times. The cap may be sized and configured to mount to containers of various sizes, and/or different sized nozzles of similar sized containers. The cap may be used in place of an existing cap of the container, such as the cap that is used to seal the container for purposes of shipping, displaying, transporting and selling.

One embodiment of the cap comprises silicon or other elastic material. In one example, the silicone material is a food grade silicone. The silicone provides a number of advantages including, for example, elasticity that permits use of the cap on different sized containers and/or container nozzles. Further, the silicone material may provide for improved sealing of a dispense opening of the cap. The dispense opening is formed at a closed end of the cap. Applying a squeezing force to an exterior of the container when the cap is mounted to the container forces the contents of the container through the dispense opening. The dispense opening may have various shapes and sizes including, for example, a Y-shaped, a X-shaped, or a linear-shaped opening. The dispense opening may define one or more material flaps that move between open and closed positions as the contents of the container are forced through the dispense opening. After release of the squeezing force to the container, the flaps move into a closed position and the dispense opening is sealed closed. The dispense opening may be referred to as a self-sealing opening, a self-opening/self-closing aperture, or the like. The use of silicone or related elastic materials may promote opening and closing of the dispense opening, and resealing of the dispense opening in a way that limits inadvertent dispensing of the container contents.

One application for the caps disclosed herein is for use on a nozzle of a toothpaste tube. The cap may be used in place of the typical toothpaste tube cap (e.g., a screw on cap or a flip cap that is attached to a nozzle of the tube). The caps disclosed herein may remain fixed to the tube until all of the contents of the tube are dispensed. The use of the caps disclosed herein may eliminate the need for removing the toothpaste tube cap each time there is a need to dispense the toothpaste. As such, no time is wasted screwing on and screwing off the cap, flipping a lip between opened and closed positions, or handling a cap that may be removed from toothpaste tube when dispensing the toothpaste. Further, the self-closing aspects of the caps disclosed herein may prevent or at least significantly limit any drips, oozing, or drying out of the toothpaste in the toothpaste nozzle or around the nozzle. Consequently, toothpaste messes and the need to clean up such messes are eliminated or reduced.

Another aspect of the caps disclosed herein is the ability to control a portion size of the dispensed content of the container. As applied to toothpaste tubes, the caps disclosed herein may provide dispensing of a thinner or smaller sized stream of toothpaste and the ability to more closely control how much toothpaste is dispensed from the tube upon applying a squeezing force to the tube. Further, caps having different shaped and sized dispense openings may be interchanged on a given container to provide a desired cross-sectional shape of the dispensed stream of content and/or the ability to more closely control the amount of content that is dispensed for a given squeezing force applied to the container. Overall, the container caps disclosed herein may provide for less waste, which results in money saved and reduced cleaning. Further, by better controlling dispensing of a container contents, there is a reduced risk of the extra dispensed contents being available for inadvertent ingesting, touching, etc., particularly for small children and the elderly.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-8, and particularly FIGS. 2 and 3, an example cap 10 is shown in use with a container 40. The cap 10 may be used in place of whatever cap or sealing structure that is originally used to seal closed a nozzle 42 of the container 40. The nozzle 42 positioned at one end of a body 44 of the container 40. The nozzle 42 includes an aperture 46 and a plurality of threads 48 formed on an outer surface of the nozzle 42 to threadably connect to an original cap of the container 40. A shoulder 50 of the container 40 is positioned adjacent to the nozzle and may be interposed between the nozzle 42 and the body 44. As shown in FIG. 3, the container 40 includes content 54 positioned within an interior 52. FIG. 3 also shows the nozzle 42 having an external diameter D₂ and a length L₂. The container 40 may have any desired shape and size such as, for example, a cylindrical container having a circular cross-sectional shape. In one example, the container 40 has a tube-shaped construction, such as the tube shape typically used for toothpaste. The nozzle 42 typically has a cylindrical shape with a hollow, circular cross-section.

The cap 10 includes a nozzle portion 12 and a base portion 14. The base portion 14 may be optional. In some embodiments, the base portion 14 may assist with mounting the cap 10 to a container 40. The nozzle portion 12 includes an end surface 16, a dispense opening 18, a cavity 20, and an open end 22. The cavity 20 may have an inner diameter D₁ and an inner length L₁.

The dispense opening 18 may have a Y-shape or a T-shape, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The dispense opening 18 may define a plurality of flaps 19 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The flaps 19 may be movable between the generally closed position shown in FIG. 5 and the open position shown in FIG. 6. When in the closed position, the flaps 19 seal against each other to prevent outflow of the content 54 from the container 40. When the flaps 19 are in an open position as shown in FIG. 9, the content 54 is dispensed as a stream of content 54. FIG. 9 shows an embodiment in which the container 40 is a tube of toothpaste and the stream of content 54 may be a stream of toothpaste that is dispensed onto bristles 32 of a toothbrush 30. The stream of content 54 may be much smaller in size as compared to the typical flow of toothpaste that is dispensed directly from the nozzle 42 of the container 40.

The dispense opening 18 may have other shapes and sizes. For example, FIGS. 10A-10D show different dispense opening shapes 18 a-18 d, respectively. The dispense opening 18 a has an X-shape that defines four flaps. Dispense opening 18 b has an L-shape that defines a single flap. Dispense opening 18 c has a star-shape. The star-shape may include three intersecting lines and define six flaps. Dispense opening 18 d has a linear shape. Portions of the end surface 16 on opposite sides of the dispense opening 18 d may generally be defined as flaps, wherein at least portions of the end surface 16 move toward and away from each other to provide self-opening and self-closing of the dispense opening 18 d as forces are applied to and released from the container to dispense content out through dispense opening 18 d.

The cap 10 may comprise an elastic material that facilitates automatic moving of the flaps 19 between closed and open positions. It at least some embodiments, the end surface 16 comprises an elastic material such as, for example, silicon, silicon blends, and other polymeric materials. The nozzle portion 12 may have a material thickness T (see FIG. 4) that can be adjusted as needed to provide adequate amounts of flexibility and elasticity for the flaps 19 and the automatic opening and closing of the dispense opening 18 described above. The thickness T may be adjusted depending on, for example, the size of the dispense opening 18, the number of flaps 19, the type of content being dispersed or dispensed, and the material composition of at least the end surface 16. In some embodiments, the thickness T is small enough that the cap 10 may remain mounted to the nozzle 42 while the original container cap is mounted over top of the cap 10 on the nozzle 42.

In some embodiments, the entire nozzle portion 12 comprises a flexible, elastic material such as silicon. In still further embodiments, the entire cap 10 includes the same flexible, elastic material such as silicon. Other embodiments comprise different materials for the base portion 14 and nozzle portion 12. The nozzle portion 12 and base portion 14 may be co-molded together to form a single, integral structure. In other embodiments, the nozzle portion 12 and base portion 14 are formed separately and then connected to each other using, for example, an adhesive, heat welding, or the like.

The inner diameter D₁ of the cap 10 typically is smaller than the outer diameter D₂ of the nozzle 42 of container 40. The cap 10 may be expanded, stretched and/or elastically deformed in order to fit over the nozzle 42 with the nozzle 42 positioned within cavity 20. By increasing the internal size of the cavity 20 to fit over the nozzle 42, the cap 10 is able to exert a radially inward directed force that creates an interference fit and fluid seal between cap 10 and nozzle 42. This interference fit may help retain the cap 10 mounted to the nozzle 42 without the use of other connecting features such as the threads 48 or other fastener. In other embodiments, the inner diameter D₁ is substantially the same as the outer diameter D₂. In further embodiments, the cap 10 may include internal threads that threadably mate with eternal threads 48 on the container 40. Referring to FIG. 3, an axial force in the direction X may be applied to the cap 10 to force the cap 10 onto the nozzle 42. In still further embodiments, the cap 10 may be rotated about the longitudinal axis A (see FIG. 2) while the axial force is applied in the direction X to assist in mounting the cap 10 to the nozzle 42.

An interference fit between the cap 10 along the cavity 20 and the outer surface of the nozzle 42 may provide a fluid-tight connection so that the content 54 of the container 40 ooze out along the sides of the nozzle 42. In some embodiments, the base portion 14 of cap 10 may provide an additional sealing with the container 40 along the shoulder 50.

The base portion 14 may be helpful for grasping and handling the cap 10, for example, while mounting and dismounting the cap 10 from the container 40. In one example, a user may grasp the base portion 14 on opposite sides of the nozzle portion 12 and apply a radially outward directed force in the direction Y as shown in FIG. 3. This radially directed force may increase the diameter D₁ at the open end 22 thereby making it easier to insert the nozzle 42 into the cavity 20. The force in the direction Y may be released after the cap 10 is positioned on the nozzle 42 with the base portion 14 positioned in contact with or at least adjacent to the shoulder 50.

The length L₁ of the cavity 20 may be greater than the length L₂ of the nozzle 42. The length L₁ may accommodate nozzles of varying lengths L₂. A gap G between the distal end of the nozzle 42 and the closed end of cavity 20 may be filled with some of the content 54 upon use of the cap 10 to dispense the content 54. Any content 54 that remains positioned within nozzle 42 or within the gap G may be contained by closure of the flaps 19, which seal closed the dispense opening 18. The content 54 may be held internal the cap 10 and container 40 without inadvertent oozing or dispensing as a result of the elastic properties of the materials used within cap 10, and particularly at the end surface 16 where the dispense opening 18 is formed.

In one embodiment, the nozzle portion 12 of the cap 10 comprises a soft but relatively firm silicone material with enough elasticity to expand the open end 22 into cavity 20 to fit snugly on the nozzle 42 of the container 40. The inner diameter D₁ of the cap 10 may be slightly smaller than the diameter D₂ of the nozzle 42. The cap 10 may be stretched and pushed onto the nozzle 42, and removed easily from the nozzle 42. However, the cap 10 may maintain connection to nozzle 42 during typical use of the container, such as when the container 40 is squeezed to dispense the content 54 through the dispense opening 18.

The end surface 16 of the nozzle portion 12 may have a contoured shape such as a hemispherical, dome or convex shape. This contoured shape may be particularly useful when dispensing the content 54, disconnecting the stream of content 54 from the cap 10, and removing the dispensed content from the end surface 16. A dome-shaped top may assist in applying the stream of content 54 to the bristles 32 without smearing the stream of content 54 across the end surface 16.

Referring now to FIGS. 11-15, another example cap 100 is shown and described. The cap 100 includes a nozzle portion 112 and a base portion 114. The nozzle portion 112 includes an end surface 116, a dispense opening 118, a cavity 120 (see FIG. 12), and an open end 122 (see FIG. 12). Referring to FIG. 13, the dispense opening 118 defines a pair of flaps 119 on opposite sides of the dispense opening 118. The flaps 119 may move between open and closed positions as the content 54 is dispensed through the dispense opening 118.

The end surface 116 of the nozzle portion 112 may have a tapered shape as shown in the figures. The distal end of the tapered shape may terminate at the dispense opening 118. The dispense opening 118 has a generally linear shape as shown in at least FIG. 13. Other shapes and sizes are possible for the dispense opening 118 including, for example, any of the shapes shown in FIGS. 7 and 10A-10D.

The tapered shape of the end surface 116 may result in a larger gap G between the end surface of the nozzle 42 and the dispense opening 118 as compared to other embodiments. Further, the tapered shape of the end surface 116 may provide increased flexibility for the flaps 119 and/or the nozzle portion 112 generally. The tapered shape of end surface 116 may assist in dispensing a smaller stream of content 54, such as a ribbon-shaped stream of content 54, and may improve the disconnection of the stream of content 54 from the cap 100.

The base portion 114 may have a circular shape. The base portion 114 may provide a shoulder-shaped construction. The base portion 114 may have a substantially greater size in some embodiments as compared to what is shown in FIGS. 11-14 to promote, for example, grasping of the base portion 114 when mounting the cap 100 to the nozzle 42 of the container 40. The base portion 114 may provide improved sealing and/or contact between the cap 100 and the container 40 such as for example, along the shoulder 50.

Referring now to FIGS. 16-20, another example cap 200 is shown and described. The cap 200 includes a nozzle portion 212 having an end surface 216, a dispense opening 218, a cavity 220 (see FIG. 17), and an open end 222 (see FIG. 17). The cap 200 may have an inner diameter D₁ and a length L. The length L may be the length when the cap is in a rest position before mounting to a container and before having its shape adapted as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. The shape of the cap 200 may be adapted by rolling the open end 222 upon itself in the direction R₁ as shown in FIG. 17 to create a rolled up portion 224 (see FIG. 19). When in the rolled up position shown in FIG. 19, the cap 200 may be mounted to an end of the nozzle 42. The rolled up portion 224 may be at least partially unrolled in a direction R₂ shown in FIG. 19 to mount the cap 200 to the nozzle 42. The length L may be sufficiently long to mount the cap 200 to nozzles 42 having a variety of lengths.

Creating the rolled up portion 224 may reduce the inner diameter to a size D₃ shown in FIG. 19. The diameter D₃ may be smaller than the diameter D₁. The diameter D₃ may also be smaller than the diameter D₂ of the nozzle 42. A radially inward force applied by the rolled up portion 224 may provide increased interference fit between the cap 200 and the nozzle 42 to provide an improved connection that retains the cap 200 on the container 40.

FIG. 18 shows the dispense opening 218 having a Y-shape. Other shapes and sizes are possible for the dispense opening 218 including, for example, any of the shapes shown in FIGS. 7 and 10A-10D. Further, the cap 200 may have a tapered distal end surface such as the tapered end surface 116 described above with reference to FIGS. 11-15. The end surface 216 is shown having a generally contoured or dome shape in FIGS. 16-20.

The caps disclosed herein may provide a variety of advantages including, for example, the following:

-   -   Elimination of a screw on cap for a container while providing         flow control from the container.     -   Use of a structure that provides dispensing of contents of the         container without opening or closing a cap manually.     -   Eliminating inadvertent dispense of the container contents.     -   Providing better portion control and/or control of content         dispensing thereby reducing waste, saving money, and reducing         risk of ingesting or touching the dispensed content.     -   Providing a self-sealing cap that automatically opens and closes         depending on the amount of pressure applied to the container to         dispense the content.     -   A removable cap that can be used on container nozzles of         different sizes and shapes.     -   A removable cap that can be replaced with an original container         cap whenever desired.     -   A self-sealing cap that may be used in combination with a sealed         cap such as the original cap used to seal the nozzle of the         container.

The present description provides examples, and is not limiting of the scope, applicability, or configuration set forth in the claims. Thus, it will be understood that changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements discussed without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, and various embodiments may omit, substitute, or add other procedures or components as appropriate. For instance, the methods described may be performed in an order different from that described, and various steps may be added, omitted, or combined. Also, features described with respect to certain embodiments may be combined in other embodiments.

Various inventions have been described herein with reference to certain specific embodiments and examples. However, they will be recognized by those skilled in the art that many variations are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the inventions disclosed herein, in that those inventions set forth in the claims below are intended to cover all variations and modifications of the inventions disclosed without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The terms “including” and “having” come as used in the specification and claims shall have the same meaning as the term “comprising.” 

What is claimed is:
 1. A container cap, comprising: a nozzle portion having a cavity, closed end, and an open end, the open end providing access to the cavity, a self-closing opening being formed in the closed end; wherein the nozzle portion is expandable to receive at least a portion of a nozzle of a container through the open end and into the cavity to provide an interference fit connection.
 2. The container cap of claim 1, wherein the container cap comprises silicone.
 3. The container cap of claim 1, further comprising a base portion configured to contact a shoulder of the container.
 4. The container cap of claim 3, wherein the base portion is positioned adjacent to the open end.
 5. The container cap of claim 1, wherein the self-closing opening has a Y-shape.
 6. The container cap of claim 1, wherein the self-closing opening has one of a T-shape, an X-shape, an L-shape, a linear shape, and a star shape.
 7. The container cap of claim 1, wherein at least the nozzle portion comprises an elastomeric material.
 8. The container cap of claim 1, wherein the self-closing opening includes at least one movable flap.
 9. The container cap of claim 1, wherein the container is a tube of toothpaste.
 10. The container cap of claim 1, wherein the cavity has a length that is greater than a length of the container nozzle.
 11. The container cap of claim 1, wherein the closed end includes a convex outer surface.
 12. The container cap of claim 1, wherein the closed end includes a tapered surface.
 13. The container cap of claim 1, wherein the a portion of the nozzle adjacent to the open end is configured to roll onto itself prior to mounting the nozzle portion to the container nozzle.
 14. The container cap of claim 1, wherein the container cap has an integral, single-piece construction.
 15. A method of manufacturing a container cap, comprising: forming a nozzle portion, the nozzle portion comprising a cavity, a closed end, an open end, and a self-closing opening formed in the closed end, the open end providing access to the cavity by a nozzle of a container, the self-closing opening comprising at least one movable flap that moves between open and closed positions as contents of the container are forced out through the self-closing opening.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the nozzle portion is configured to provide an interference fit connection between the nozzle portion and the container nozzle.
 17. The method of claim 15, further comprising forming a base portion, the base portion being connected to the nozzle portion, the base portion being configured to contact a shoulder of the container.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the nozzle portion comprises silicone and has elastic properties.
 19. The method of claim 15, wherein the cavity of the nozzle portion is formed having an internal diameter when in a rest state that is smaller than an external diameter of the nozzle.
 20. The method of claim 15, wherein the closed end of the nozzle portion is formed having a contoured shape. 